I Love You Because...

Missing Her 'Canada Cousins'....

Blue Lake (aka Crandell)

We've been in Waterton a couple days and our feet were begging to be on the trail, any trail. Since we are now completey out numbered by the kids we figured we needed them on our side. We picked the simplest hike we could think of so we didn't wipe them out before we got through our 'hiking list'. 

Crandell Lake as it's officially called, (for some reason everyone in my family has called it 'Blue' longer then I've been alive) is only 2 km from the lower parking lot. I've gone there straight from the backdoor of the cabin/townsite (7.1km one way) but again, I wanted to keep it simple for the kids. I promise anyone can do it! We even saw a friend of my grandmother's on the trail, Sister Spackman, who had just celebrated her 92nd birthday! It was the perfect juxtaposition to my little Cam on his first Waterton hike. 

It's also the perfect hike to remind the kids of hiking etiquette and rules and teach them a few new ones. Even though it's short you really do get a lot of reward for little effort on this hike. There are always amazing views, wildlife, tons of wildflowers and there is usually great fishing. 

It's a perfect hike to do in the late afternoon, pack a dinner up and enjoy the solitude of the lake. In past years if we get into Waterton early in the day we'll pack up a lunch and come straight up here in the afternoon just to welcome us into the park! The kids favorite part had to be the wildlife that well... got extremely friendly. (they may or may not have invited it to our picnic with a few leftover trail mix that 'fell' in the dirt)

We loved just sitting on the banks and teaching the kids how to skip rocks, we loved the picnic and watching Bampa fish and even though Ethan had an autistic meltdown when things didn't go his way, it was actually short lived and he was able to calm down super quick in the beautiful setting. (Frankly, Ethan's amazing resilience and change made me wish we could live here.)

Cam even loved it!

So... who's coming up to Canada with us next year?! 

Joanna 

 

 

Welcome Home

Seriously, after a long day hiking this is the best sight in the entire world!! 

LOVE.
J 

Owen's Room

7 months after moving in and I'm finally getting around to the tour of the house, sorry about that. Owen's room has been done since the week we moved in but I guess actually uploading pictures proved to be a bigger task then I thought. I promise I'll be better. 

This room has been in the planning since I was pregnant with Owen but in the old house there was no actual room to put him in. BUT... It's not like that stopped me from collecting just the right accent items for the last 3+ years and frankly, when we moved in, it all paid off.

The first thing you see when you walking is the Hudson Bay Quilt I posted about last week. I love it with the red bed frame and since I hate the look of the box springs underneath and I'm not a fan of bedskirts, I plan on trying out THIS fun idea I found on Pintrest sometime this spring. (it's on my to-do list.) This room is the smallest room in the house at 12x14 so it's all about the little details. Like the dead,  stuffed animals on the 'trophy' wall.  

(we have the Elk, the Bear and the Deer... now I'm thinking a Buffalo or a Mountain Goat would be fun to add but since I got these three cuddle-y touches as a gift I'm not keen on the price tag for more.)

On the other wall we have a fun kids map that we got on one of our travels years ago and then we foam board mounted it and framed it. (I think in our last house it was in the Ethan's Therapy Room)

Of course no canadian rocky mountain inspired room in my house would be complete without a picture of The Prince of Wales Hotel, a cute bear statue Owen picked out in on a trip to the N. Georgia  Mountains and some great books about Bears....

I really wish I had a 'before' picture of that dresser. It was my brothers 20+ years ago and stained so dark it was practically black. Doug and I have had it since we were married but a few years ago Husbandface and I stripped it, sanded it down, refinished it and added fun rustic handles. It took FOREVER but it was so worth it. I love the knotty look and the clean lines.... LOVE IT! 

Then a few more perfect Waterton touches that make me happy everytime I see hear it, like this fun TeePee Cuckoo Clock.

and the Indian Head door stop? Yeah, I love it. (That apparently my 4 year old thinks is a weapon... and since it's cast iron? it kinda is!) 

Okay, two rooms down and 6+ more to go. Thanks for caring!

Joanna  

 

 

Hudson Bay Point Quilt

I have been planning Owen's Room since before he was born but as soon as we moved into this house I already had a lot of the decor ready to go. The thing I didn't have was the perfect quilt. Owen's room has a Waterton/Canadian Parks theme and the only appropriate blanket I could think of was a Traditional Hudson Bay Point Blanket. (When talking about it to friends hereI learned that most people in the South have never heard of them. Seriously!) The problem with the Hudson Bay Blanket was that 1) it's wool... which means it's not only harder to clean with a 3 year old using it regularly but it's also itchy and frankly it's not until you're an adult that you start to really like it. 2) Thos puppies are expensive! I had to hold back and remind myself that this was for a 3 year old and spending $200-$600 on a non-washable bedspread might not be the brightest of all ideas and 3) we don't live in the canadian rockies (huge problem), we live in Georgia... the need for a super warm (HOT) wool blanket is pretty much zero. So with my heart set on a real/authentic Hudson Bay Blanket I had to get creative.

The month before we moved in my Mom come out for a visit and I had her help me bring my idea to life. 

Just a 1/4 yard fabric in the classic Red, Yellow, Green and Black with a cream Queen Size sheet and The Hudson Bay QUILT came to life in just one night. (Remember? I told you my Mom was amazing? This is just more proof of how insanely talented she is.)

This was another one of those projects that made Husbandface feel like I was crazy or he didn't get the concept of it until it was actually done but 1) that's becomeing a trend and 2) he doesn't have the same love for Hudson Bay Blankets as I do so of course he didn't get quite as excited.  (We actually did this the same week as we refinished the chairs and we were packing so to his credit, the timing was a little bit questionable.)  In the end I'm pretty sure Doug loves it just as much as I do.

This quilt was super simple in concept/design but it's the little touches and small details that make it perfect.

Like the Custom Gold Embroidered Patch...
(that name it an official Wallace Point Blanket from the Boundary Bay Company)

And the 5 points added to it, making sure everyone can see the authentic quality/status...

And the AMZING quilting done by the BEST machine quilter I know. ... Mom came up with the idea of maybe putting a reference to bears in the quilting and Dixie (the Quilting genius) came up with these!! 

Hundreds of 'hidden' bears quilted onto the entire quilt! It absolutely made it spectacular and now not only do I love, LOVE the finished project, but so does my Baby Bear!! 

There you have it! My First Custom Designed Quilt. 

Thanks for reading!
J 

 

3 things I love this week.

First, I love this man. He has been my rock this week. MY ROCK. He's been wonderful. Thank You Doug for your support and patience and encouragement. Eu Te Amo. 

Second, I love that necklace. It was a special gift I bought myself for Christmas and I love, love, LOVE it. I actually bought two... One for my hometown that I miss so much.

and one for where my heart is. Waterton Lakes International Peace Park, Alberta CANADA. Which I miss so much it hurts. Just two of the reasons it's hard for this girl to live in the south. So I got these little reminders to keep them close even when they're soo far away. 

If you want a custom one for yourself contact Sudlow.... AMAZING. While you're there be sure to look at her guitar picks, I love them and it makes me want to learn to play.Oh and her cufflinks... love them too! (On a side note; if you are one of my 4 sisters you are NOT allowed to contact her- just sayin'.)

Third, I love my little artist and the gems she brings home. 

 

Go CANADA!

 we're having an Olympic Hockey Party this afternoon. Anyone is welcome to join us.... as long as you're cheering for the right team! (Dad, it's day's like this that make me wish I lived closer to you! I miss you!)

Canadian Pride

With the Olympics coming, Dad called  tonight with required study material for Family Home Evening this week... He wants to make sure we're remembering our Roots and cheering for the right country.

I AM Canadian!

Okay, I know most people didn't know that this past weekend was Thanksgiving weekend. Okay, not here- but in Canada it is. While to you it may just be a stupid fact to me it means that I need to make a {small} turkey and stuffing dinner tonight. See, I consider myself Canadian. Yes, I realize that I was born in The States. Yes, I realize that I have lived all over the US my entire life and I have never lived in Canada but, seriously, if you grew up like I did- you'd consider at least a part of you Canadian. Both my parents were born and raised in Canada, almost all of my extended relatives (aunts, uncles, cousins) still live there. I spent almost every summer of my life in Canada. If I could live anywhere in the world it would be Southern Alberta. I LOVE Canada. Still not enough of a reason for me to consider myself Canadian? Well, then you haven't met my Father. A PROUD Canadian. Very Proud. I guess his pride in his country just rubbed off on me. I may not be what you'd call a Canadian but, it's part of who I am, it's where I came from, and hopefully it's where I'll end up! I AM CANADIAN !!!! Happy Thanksgiving. I'm off to get me some turkey! (oh, and Happy Columbus Day to the rest of you!)